Security imaging system

ABSTRACT

Method and system for detecting authenticate products based upon alteration of emission characteristics due to interaction of the emissions with the product and the container.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/442,221, filed May 20, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,068,356 which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Patent No. 60/382,294, filedMay 20, 2002, from which priority is sought and the disclosures of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to system for authenticatingproducts based upon measuring anticipated changes in absorption,reflection, or emission of authentication materials due to the physicalcharacteristics of a genuine product or product package. Moreparticularly, the present invention provides for a system forauthenticating products based upon an expected differential effect inabsorption, reflection or emission with respect to a defined pluralityof authentication materials when the absorption, reflection and/oremission of the same are measured across one material versus another.Such system may employ a plurality of authentication materials appliedto the back of a product label to produce a fingerprint when theabsorption, reflection and/or emission of the authentication materialsare measured across a portion of the product or product packaging.

2. Background of the Invention

U.S. Patent No. 5,753,511 discloses an automated method of developing adatabase to store information for fingerprint-type analysis. Theusefulness of the measurement of the effect of interaction oflight-emitting materials within products with other components, such asneutral spirits, vodka, tequila, soft drinks and infant formula, inauthenticating genuine product is disclosed. A fingerprint, referring tothe light emission intensity from a light-emissive compound incombination with a liquid sample of a product, is used to authenticatethe product (Col. 4, Ln. 23-29). There is taught a method fordetermining the relative amounts of key ingredients in a product byexposing the products to selected light-emissive compounds present in alight-emissive compound. Bandpass and cutoff filters are used to isolateexcitation wavelengths from emission spectra due to light emission fromthe sample.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,124 B1 similarly discloses measuring light emissionfrom light emissive materials interacting with key elements in a productfor the purpose of authenticating the product. The patent claims amethod for determining relatedness of a sample to a standard known to beauthentic or known to have at least one selected characteristic ofauthentic material that requires combining a sample with at least onelight-emissive compound to form a sample mixture, and irradiating thesame to develop a fingerprint.

Systems such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,753,511 and 6,232,124permit products such as water, beverages and liquid pharmaceuticals tobe fingerprinted using dyes such as fluorescent dyes to determineauthenticity when compared to a side by side trial with the authenticproduct. For comparison purposes, however, samples must often be shippedto an appropriately equipped laboratory. U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/428,704 commonly assigned, teaches in field testing, may beperformed by placing the fluorescent dyes on a microchip. The microchipsmay be placed into the product and compared to an original in the fieldfor authenticity testing. This provides an enhanced portability toauthenticity testing.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/556,280, likely commonly assigned,provides for tracking of the origin of a container and/or authenticationof a container using a emission detection device and a printer to printsecurity dyes on the label of a product. The dyes used to mark thecontainer provide a security feature that may be used to determineproduct authenticity and origin of manufacturing (track and trace). Suchsystem, however, is less than fool proof as the marks may be removed bya skilled artisan.

There remains a need for improved methods for permitting portableproduct finger printing.

DEFINITIONS

“Authentication Material” refers to a material used to authenticate,identify or mark a product. Among other physical properties, anauthentication material may demonstrate different absorption,reflection, or emission upon exposure to an excitation source.

An “Emission profile” can include, but is not limited to, emissionintensity and time of relative emission. Analysis of the emissionintensity or time of emission can be done as described herein and byother methods known to one of skill in the art. Other emissionproperties measurable by one of ordinary skill in the art (e.g. emissionhalf-life, emission decay characteristics) are also e m braced in theterm profile.

“Fingerprint” refers to the data set of absorption, reflection, oremission intensity from an authentication material in combination withthe product to which it is affixed or intermingled, as measured througha particular media, including media comprising or surrounding theproduct such as its container. Accordingly, for example, the sameproduct in a different translucent container, different products in thesame container, and different products in different translucentcontainers can all have different fingerprints with respect to one ormore authentication materials. A “fingerprint profile” is an assembly offingerprints.

“Light-Absorbing Compounds”: compounds that absorb light in response toirradiation with light. Light absorption can be the result of anychemical reaction known to those of skill in the art.

“Light-Changeable Material”: a material that absorbs, reflects, emits orotherwise alters electromagnetic radiation directed at the same. By“light-changeable compound” it is meant to include, without limitation,“light-sensitive”, “light-emissive” and “light-absorbing” compounds, asdefined below.

“Light-emissive materials” refers to compounds and other materials thatare involved in light emission in response to irradiation with light ofa different wavelength. Light emission of interest can be a result ofphosphorescence, chemiluminescence, or, fluorescence or polarizedfluorescence. “Light emissive compounds,” includes materials having oneor more of the following properties: 1) they are a fluorescent,phosphorescent, or luminescent; 2) interact with components of thesample or the standard or both to yield at least one fluorescent,phosphorescent, or luminescent compound; or 3) interact with at leastone fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent compound in the sample,the standard, or both to alter emission at the emission wavelength. Theemission wavelength can be any detectable wavelength including visible,infrared (including near infrared), and ultraviolet. Light, as usedherein, likewise can be of any wavelength. Light-emissive compounds alsoinclude compounds that cause, or interact with components of thestandard or sample to cause, or alter, Raman Scatter at a scatter oremission wavelength. The Raman effect occurs when light from a strongsource (typically a laser) interacts with a material. Most of the lightis absorbed or scattered without wavelength change but some of the lightis scattered into other wavelengths (the Raman scatter).

“Light-Sensitive Material”: a material capable of being activated so asto change in a physically measurable manner, upon exposure to one ormore wavelengths of light.

For the purpose of the rest of the disclosure it is understood that theterms as defined above are intended whether such terms are in allinitial cap, or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a system for authenticating productsbased upon measuring anticipated changes in absorption, reflection, oremission of authentication materials due to the physical characteristicsof a genuine product or product package. More particularly, the presentinvention provides for a system for authenticating products based uponan expected differential effect in absorption, reflection or emissionwith respect to a defined plurality of authentication materials when theabsorption, reflection and/or emission of the same are measured acrossone material versus another.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of authentication materials, morepreferably light-sensitive materials, more preferably light-changeablematerials, more preferably light-absorbing, light-reflective, orlight-emissive materials, is applied to the back of a product label toproduce a fingerprint. Preferably, more than one such material isapplied to the back of the label to allow multiple assessments ofabsorption, emission, reflection etc., at one time. The label is thenpreferably place against the side of the product to which it is to beapplied. Preferably, the authentication material is such that thematerial possesses or displays (such as emission of a light wavelength)at least one property that can be measured from the non-back side of thelabel. More preferably the authentication material is of such properties(such as intensity of emission) that such properties can be detectedthrough the product and/or product container. When the label is appliedto a product container, it is preferred that the container be of suchconstruct (such as translucent) such that it does not interfere withexcitation wavelengths impinging on the authentication material, andlikewise does not interfere with the read of properties ofauthentication material through the container. Likewise, any change ofproperty with respect to the authentication material, preferably, can beread through the product, and in a preferred embodiment such readthrough the container is dependent upon the product in the container. Aswould be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, the product,product container and the particular authentication material preferablyshould be chosen allow excitation of the authentication material fromoutside the product container, and measurement of the response of theauthentication material to the excitation form outside the productcontainer.

A preferred label may comprise a plurality of authentication materials,such as light emitting materials, on its back (the portion typically incontact with the product or container housing the product). For example,a label could be marked on the back with nine different authenticationmaterials displaying near infrared activity.

The label may then be placed onto a bottle that contains a product, suchas cola or alcohol. An source capable of exciting one or more to theauthentication materials may be used. Preferably more than one of suchdyes would be excited by the source such that multiple changes can beregistered with respect to the authentication materials such that arelative value may be obtained, for example relative fluorescent units.A device capable of both emitting the excitation source and receivingtransmission of any response, such as increase in fluorescence, would beadvantageous in that it would permit ease of detection of authenticity.The relative fluorescent units, etc. determined through the product actsas a fingerprint of the product authenticity, the product itself, and/orits container typically affecting such reads. Software may be used forexample to recognize pre-selected patterns, and statistical software maybe used to calculate when the product is non-authentic. Transmission andreading functions may be incorporated into a single device, such as theVerigard 300.

As such the present invention permits the technology of portable productfingerprinting to be transferred to the inside of a label. The label maythen be applied against the side of the product. Multiple authenticationmaterials, such as infrared dyes, are preferred as they allow an arrayof emissions to pass through the product.

When the authentication material, such as light-emissive authenticationmaterials, are used, the detected profiles, such as the light-emissiveprofile, can be used to determine several factors, for example: (1)serial number determining the origin of the container; (2) if thecontainer is authentic; (3) if the contents are authentic; (4) may actas a measure of safety when imaging the contents of beverage, watersample, or a pharmaceutical before purchase or drinking. The presentinvention therefore provides in its embodiments a significant advance inthe areas of product tracking, authenticity and consumer safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, and together with the general description given above and thedetailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve toexplain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a label having nine authentication dyes applied toits backside;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottle with authentication label applied withauthentication occurring by reading a change in the authentication dyesof FIG. 1 across the front of the label;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottle with an authentication label of the presentinvention applied, with authentication occurring by reading a change inthe authentication dyes through a wall of the bottle;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottle with an authentication label of the presentinvention applied, with authentication occurring by reading a change inthe authentication dyes through a wall of the bottle and through theproduct;

FIG. 5 is an image of, and an Imagequant spectrum analysis of, NIR dyeson a label across an empty plastic bottle.

FIG. 6 is an image of, and an Imagequant spectrum analysis of, NIR dyesthrough a full bottle of Scotch whiskey.

FIG. 7 is an image of, and an Imagequant spectrum analysis of, NIR dyesthrough a full bottle of another brand of Scotch whiskey.

FIG. 8 is an image of, and an Imagequant spectrum analysis of, NIR dyesthrough a full bottle of cola.

FIG. 9 is an image of, and an Imagequant spectrum analysis of, NIR dyesthrough a full bottle of another brand of cola.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Is would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, a number ofauthentication materials can be use in the practice of the presentinvention. Some preferred materials are set forth below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Dye Name/No. Excitation Emission Alcian Blue 630 nm Absorbs (Dye73) Methyl Green 630 nm Absorbs (Dye 79) Methylene Blue 661 nm 686 nm(Dye 78) Indocyanine Green 775 nm 818 nm (Dye 77) Copper Phthalocyanine795 nm Absorbs (Dye 75) IR 140 823 nm 838 nm (Dye 53) IR 768 Perchlorate760 nm 786 nm (Dye 54) IR 780 Iodide 780 nm 804 nm (Dye 55) IR 780Perchlorate 780 nm 804 nm (Dye 56) IR 786 Iodide 775 nm 797 nm (Dye 57)IR 768 Perchlorate 770 nm 796 nm (Dye 58) IR 792 Perchlorate 792 nm 822nm (Dye 59) 1,1′-DIOCTADECYL- 645 nm 665 nm 3,3,3′,3′-TETRAMETHYLINDODICARBOCYANINE IODIDE (Dye 231) 1,1′-DIOCTADECYL- 748 nm780 nm 3,3,3′,3′- TETRAMETHYLINDOTRICARBOCYANINE IODIDE (Dye 232)1,1′,3,3,3′,3′- 638 nm 658 nm HEXAMETHYLINDODICARBOCYANINE IODIDE (Dye233) DTP 800 nm 848 nm (Dye 239) HITC Iodide 742 nm 774 nm (Dye 240) IRP302 740 nm 781 nm (Dye 242) DTTC Iodide 755 nm 788 nm (Dye 245) DOTCIodide 690 nm 718 nm (Dye 246) IR-125 790 nm 813 nm (Dye 247) IR-144 750nm 834 nm (Dye 248)

A series of experiments was undertaken to demonstrate thatauthentication of the product in a bottle could be improved by using themethod of the present invention, as well as other advantages could beachieved.

EXAMPLE 1

The dyes were imaged through the label. To address the problem of makingsecurity markings resistant to rub off and solvent removal, the nearinfrared fluorescent dyes were placed under the label and a commerciallyavailable security camera (Verigard 300 camera) was used to image thedyes. Nine fluorescent dyes that have an excitation range of 710-735 nmwere placed onto an absorbent material (FIG. 1). The label containingthe dyes was then placed dye side against the side of a container (FIG.2). An image of the dyes was then taken with the Verigard 300 camera(reference Veritec U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/556,280). TheVerigard 300 has two light emitting diode power supplies and a sensorthat detects light from 740 nm to about 1100 nm. In this experiment thecamera provides a means to detect the emission through to the label. Theimage from the Verigard 300 was then analyzed by exporting the imagefrom the camera and importing it into a software program calledImagequant (Amersham Biosciences; Piscataway, N.J.). Image not shown.

EXAMPLE 2

The second set of experiments was designed to address the question ofwhether is was possible to image the dyes not only through the labelalone (as described by Gosselin and Walfredo U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,677),but also to image the dyes through the container. The dyes were placedonto an absorbent material exactly as described in the first set ofexperiments. In this experiment the label containing the dyes was placeddye side against the side of the container. An image of the dyes wasthen taken with the Verigard 300 camera through the empty container(FIG. 3). The image was then exported and analyzed using Imagequantsoftware (shown in FIG. 5). Based on this data it was discovered thatthe NIR dyes could be imaged through the container.

EXAMPLE 3

The Dye label system, Lab on a Label, (LOL) was applied to a containerfull of product. In this set of experiments the dyes were made up andplaced on the label as previously described. An image of the LOL labelwas taken with the Verigard 300 camera through a full bottle of ScotchWhiskey (Johnnie Walker Red Label®). The image was then exported andanalyzed using Imagequant software (shown in FIG. 6). Based on thisdata, it was discovered that the NIR dyes could be imaged through a fullcontainer. If the NIR dyes had been placed using a continuous ink jetprinter (CD) or another printing method then the camera could read asecurity code on the back of the label. The image would not be visibleto the eye but could provide a mark for bottle origin and whether thebottle was authentic.

EXAMPLE 4

In this set of experiments the dyes were made up and placed on the labelas previously described. An image of the LOL the label was taken withthe Verigard 300 camera using the same LOL label as used in the previousexperiment. This time the label was applied face against a different butclosely related bottle of Scotch Whiskey (Johnnie Walker Black®). Theresulting pattern after analysis with Imagequant software detects adifference between the two scotches (FIG. 7). In the same set ofexperiments is was possible to show with using the same LOL label thatthe system could differentiate the difference between Pepsi® (FIG. 8)and RC® (FIG. 9) cola when imaged through the container. Such techniquecould be used to verify the safety of a product or its authenticity.

EXAMPLE 5

Studies were undertaken to determine whether the V-300 can read throughopposite side of different labels and to study the variation in thefluorescence of the various dye combinations when placed on the insideof a label and read across the other end of a bottle, either tilled witha liquid or empty.

Dye Formulations:

RESPECTIVE CONCENTRATIONS (IN DYE PAIR CODE NAME DYE PAIR μM) 1 451 +240  50, 125 2 575 + 248  75, 62.5 3 240 + 575 150, 125 4 575 + 242 150,0.025% (grams/mL) 5 451 + 575  75, 250 6 661 + 240 375, 375 7 240 + 248750, 625 8 575 + 459 150, 125 9 575 + 450 175, 75The dyes were made up in the concentrations listed above in halo minusvarnish (678) and applied using a micropipette. One micro liter wasdispensed per spot. The order the dyes were applied is as follows.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

After the application of the dye pairs, they were allowed to dry forninety minutes. After drying, various images were taken. The label wasaffixed to a 24 fluid ounce bottle of Pepsi® and an image was takenacross the filled bottle. The bottle was then emptied and an image wastaken across the empty bottle. The bottle was, then filled with RC Cola®and a third image was taken using the V300 camera. The same Pepsi® labelwas then taped onto a 1.75 L glass bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label®Whiskey (full) and an image was taken of this across the bottle.Finally, the label was attached to a 1.75 L glass bottle of JohnnyWalker Red Label® Whiskey (full).

While the invention has been described with respect to preferredembodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatvarious changes and/or modifications can be made to the inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. All documents cited herein are incorporated intheir entirety herein.

1. A method for determining the authenticity of, or tracking, a liquidproduct housed in a translucent container having a label attachedthereto having a plurality of light emitting materials on the sideattached to said translucent container, said method comprising: (a)exciting one or more of said light emitting materials through saidtranslucent container and said liquid product; (b) monitoring one ormore of the emitted wavelengths of light generated in response to theexcitation; (c) comparing the emission profile obtained against astandard fingerprint characteristic of an authentic product housed in anauthentic container.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality ofemitted wavelengths are monitored.
 3. A method for determining whether aliquid product in a translucent package is authentic, said translucentpackage having a label attached thereto having two or more lightemitting materials on the side attached to said translucent package,said method comprising: (a) exciting two or more of said light emittingmaterials through said translucent package and through said product; (b)monitoring two or more of the emitted wavelengths of light generated inresponse to the excitation; (c) comparing the emission profile obtainedagainst a standard fingerprint characteristic of an authentic liquidproduct.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein three or more emittedwavelengths are monitored.